llinois High School Football Week 1 Summary

August 28, 2015

MATTESON –From the private sector of Chicago to the far reaching burbs of Kankakee and everywhere in between, variations on offensive and defensive brands of football highlight the diversity of the game. And well, it’s F-O-O-T-B-A-L-L time which brings about Friday Night Lights.

In short, in our coverage area, Homewood-Flossmoor is the best – point blank period. The Vikings return 17 starters from the last year’s team that lost to Stevenson 31-25 in the Class 8A title game. Virtually every key member of the offense is back including the wonder-twin power of Deante & Devonte Harley-Hampton.

“We have talent but there are a lot of teams that have talent,” Homewood-Flossmoor coach Craig Buzea said. “Some with equal, some with more than us. Success has to do with how they play and the passion they play with. This group of seniors has been together a long time. They respect each other and they hold each other accountable.”

Looks like it’s definitely the Vikings to lose in the IHSA Class 8A…

Week 1 Game Summary

Malvern (Pa.) 37, St. Rita 0

Malvern, a high school from Pennsylvania, hit for seven plays of 20 yards or more and piled up a total of 524 yards in rolling to a 37-0 win over the Mustangs at Soldier Field.

The Mustangs, though, were burned by the big play far too often.

Malvern junior quarterback Nick Maras had a field day, completing 17 of 21 passes for 349 yards and three touchdowns, of which, 13-for-15 for 212 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.

“We just had everything clicking,” Maras said. “Our receivers and running backs came out and played a great game.”

Malvern led 20-0 at halftime as Maras threw touchdown passes of 2 yards to Ian Murray and 29 yards to Mike Fay. Maras’ 18-yard strike to Murray got the Friars down to the 1 to set up a TD run from Zac Fernandez (12 carries, 64 yards).

Be sure to watch this nice 67-yard catch and run for a TOUCHDOWN

St. Rita was held to 65 yards of total offense and only two first downs, including Brandon Williams, who ran 12 times for 29 yards in the loss.

On a bright note, Thomas Stacker recorded was able to get to the quarterback.

“We played a good game up front and our linebackers did a good job,” said Stacker, a senior defensive lineman. “We just had a lot of communication mistakes. We’d get them in third-and-long and they’d break a big run or hit a big screen for a lot of yards. It’s a lot of stuff we can fix.”

“It was definitely fun playing at Soldier Field, even though the game didn’t go how we wanted.”

Stacker hopes the Mustangs will have things turned around by then.

You can re-watch this contest in its entirety via TheCube.com

NOTE: We were the official electronic scorer for this contest. You can go back and read / review the action by clicking here.

Homewood-Flossmoor 56, Downers Grove South 15

Just too much speed

The Vikings scored five touchdowns on their first 10 plays en route to a 56-15 thrashing.
Senior quarterback Bryce Gray completed his first five passes, two of which went for touchdowns. His lone lowlight was an intentional grounding play late in the second quarter. He made up for it on the next play, connecting with Kendric Pryor for a 35-yard score and a 42-9 halftime lead.

“It doesn’t make any difference who we play, we’re going to play our game. And if we play our game and execute the way we should, it should be like this all time,” said Gray, who finished 8-for-10 for 338 yards and four TDs. “I just trust my guys. We’re a veteran team. We’ve been through it all.”

H-F scored on its opening possession on a 31-yard run up the middle from Deante Harley-Hampton (four carries, 48 yards), then scored four times on its next six plays, including TD passes of 68 and 28 yards from Gray. Not to be out-done, twin Devonte, had 2 catches for 137 yards including a 66-yard TD.

Johnson rushed for 204 yards, scored on a 99-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter and caught a 77-yard touchdown pass to lead No. 16 Joliet Catholic to a 35-13 win against No. 13 Providence in New Lenox. Davis added four receptions for 102 yards.

Glenbard West 28, Bolingbrook 7
Sam Brodner, a Vanderbilt commit, had two touchdown runs while Isaiah Skinner added an 84-yard kick return for a touchdown to lead the Hitters.

Loyola 35, Marquette University, Wis. 0
The Ramblers opened the 2015 season by jumping out to a 35-0 halftime lead and never looking back. Dara Laja had three touchdown runs (1, 1, 5) while quarterback Emmett Clifford had two touchdown passes, a 17-yard strike to Thomas Smart and a 13-yard throw to Robert Sullivan.

Reavis 33, South Bend (Ind.) Adams 27 (OT): Isiah Alpuche had two touchdowns in regulation (1-yard run, 90-yard kickoff return) and also scored the game winner to lift Reavis.

Lemont 21, Plainfield South 6: Frank Letizia returned two interceptions (42, 16 yards) for TDs to pace Lemont. Spencer Nagel tacked on a 25-yard scoring pass to Jeremy Fejedelem for the Indians.

Sandburg 28, Naperville North 21: Alec Fidan’s second TD pass of the game to Avery Verble propelled Sandburg. Andy Gayton (71-yard fumble return) also contributed a score for the Eagles.

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Bolingbrook

Loyola Academy

Providence Catholic

Lemont

Lincoln-Way West

Player to Watch:Bryan Brokop

Richards

What to Watch: experience…

Brother Rice

What to Watch: fast offense…

St. Rita

What to Watch: coach Todd Kuska

HONORABLE MENTION:Crete-Monee, Morgan Park, Rich Central

What are some story lines to follow this season?Can Homewood-Flossmoor live up to ALL of the expectations? Who will rise from the South Suburbs to contend? Can a Public League team finally win state championship?

Who are the top Player of the Year candidates?Possibly co-players of the Year featuring the Wonder twins featuring Harley-Hampton brothers are all contenders. And don’t forget about Lincoln-Way East running back Liam Morrissey.

Games to watch this season?Mount Carmel vs Providence, September 11St. Rita at Montini, September 11.Mount Carmel vs St Rita, September 18Lincoln-Way East at Homewood-Flossmoor, October 9th. Nazareth at Joliet Catholic, October 9. Crete at Rich Central, October 9Bolingbrook at H-F, October 23

2014 IHSA FINAL Football Rankings

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